The Survivor of the 27

Chapter seventeen

  I end up only getting about an hour's worth of sleep. It's currently 02:28 and I'm just sitting in my bed staring up at the ceiling. I end up just laying there till morning. Seeing that I can't really walk. I can't do anything. I feel so helpless and weak. I just want to go home and take care of Hassan.

  Forget not crossing that line. It's the only way he can be stopped. Since he knows where my family lives, they're in danger, along with everyone else that knows me. And by the looks of it, Hassan doesn't know that Jackson is still alive. And I need to do everything in my power so that it stays that way.

  Eventually everyone comes into the room. We eat, or more so they eat breakfast. Both Sharon and Felix had to leave for work. Monica, Jess, and Tom had an online class that they had to be on. Leaving me with John and Addison. Addison is laying on the couch and John is sitting in the chair by the bed. The room is completely silent. I sit up and swing my legs around the bed, that way I can face Addison.

  "Do you still have those extra clothes in your car?" I ask. I needed to get out of this hospital gown. I also wanted to talk to John in private.

  "I should. Why?" She questions.

  "I can't be in this hospital gown anymore. Could you go grab them?" I ask. She nods and leaves to go to her car. Now, it's just me and John.

  "You're going to leave, aren't you?" John asks.

  "I don't have to be here any longer. Besides, I need to take down Hassan. He knows where they live," I tell him. Referring to our family.

  "How do you plan on taking him down?" John asks.

  "I'm going to gather up the best of the best. I have some buddies in Russia and England that owe me some favors. They're all good fighters and they will help me. But he can't be here anymore. Not with the way things are heading," I inform him.

  "What are you going to do with him?" John asks with a worried expression.

  "Kill him," I say in a dark tone.

  "Hey, what happened? How did the general find me?" I ask him.

  "I did as you said. I told your family that you ended up going on that mission. They believed me. Tell ya what though, your general is jacked. He cares about you," he adds.

  "Thank you John. I don't know how I can repay you. I owe you my life. I thought I was going to be a goner. Until General Logan came at literally the perfect time."

  "Just, be nice to Addison. That's all I ask. She's trying to be nicer. That's the thing with marriage, you push each other to be better people."

  I nod my head. Not long after, Addison comes in. "I got the clothes," she announces with a smile on her face. I stand up but stumble a little. I hold onto the bed and try to shake off the dizziness. She reaches her arm out for me to grab, but I tell her I'm fine.

  I grab the clothes from her and head into the bathroom so I can change. I take off the white and blue hospital gown and exchange it with black leggings, a long sleeve black shirt, and a black sports bra.

  "Much better," I sigh.

  I walk out of the bathroom, where John and Addison are waiting for me.

  "This is so much nicer," I sigh in relief. I hate being in hospital gowns. I hate hospitals in general.

  "Ready?" I ask them. Addison looks at me confused. Then she turns to John, then me again.

"We can't just leave Mace. You're still hurt," she says concerned.

  "They can't do anything more for me," I tell her.

  As we're walking out of the hospital, I stumble my way out using the walls as support. John has his hand out ready to catch me if needed. Addison on the other hand is trailing behind, listing ways this is a bad idea.

  "What about the physical therapy you were supposed to do? What about changing your bandages? Are you even ok?" She trails on.

  "I'm fine. I just can't be there anymore. Besides, I miss my bed," I lie. Never sleeping in that bed again. I can still see that couple in my room. I shutter at the thought.

  Once we get to John's truck, I hop in the back and take off the sandals that the hospital gave me. I lift my legs up and lay them across the back seats.

  "Are you sure you're ok?" Add asks again.

  "I will be," I sigh. Once all this is over, I will be able to rest. But I can't now. There isn't any time to feel helpless or sad. Although, I guess Addison is really changing.

  We finally get home after about an hour or so drive. Both John and Addison help me get out of the car. They swing my arms over their shoulders and help me inside. As we walk in, I see Tom and a girl sitting on the coach in the living room. On the other side is Monica and the boy that she brought over when I was in the hospital.

  "We'll take you up to your bed," Addison says.

  "That's ok," I tell her. "You two can leave, I'll be fine." John and Addison look at each other. "It's fine," I reassure them.

They let me go and I watch them walk away. Once they're gone I hobble my way over to Felix's office. I plop into the chair and let out a long sigh.

  My back is killing me, along with literally every other part of my body. I push that aside though and get to work. I need to find Hassan before he gets to my family. I work for about four hours but come up empty handed. I let out a grunt. "You son of a bitch!" I yell, banging my fists on the desk. I lean over on the desk with hy hand on my forehead. Suddenly the door bursts open, making me jump.

  "Mace, are you ok?" Addison asks in a worried tone.

  "I'm fine," I push off.

  "What are you doing?" Addison asks.

  "Nothing," I shut her out. She can't get involved.

  "Hey, don't shut us out." That's what I'm trying to do! If I let you in and Hassan gets you you'll end up just like the rest of them.

  "I'm not. I just have a lot on my mind." It's technically not a lie.

  "Look, you don't have to talk about it now. Let's just go get some food, yeah? I'm starved," Addison says walking up to me. She gives me her hand to take and I do. With her help I stand up and she helps walk me to the kitchen. Once we get to the kitchen, who do I see? None other than the general.